Calling for action to implement Gender-inclusive Digital Policy

On 26 April 2024, the Information for All Programme (IFAP), in collaboration with the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP), convened a webinar on Gender Transformative Policy to Advance Digital Inclusion. The event was attended by 100 experts and stakeholders from 44 countries and ended with a strong call to action for policymakers and the ICT sector to adopt and enforce comprehensive, gender-inclusive policies.

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that digital disparities are more likely to leave women at risk of disconnection. The lack of digital connectivity for women is exacerbating existing inequalities and restricting access to crucial digital resources. Ms Onica Makwakwa, Executive Director of the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP)highlights this challenge in the report "Connected Resilience: Gendered Experiences of Meaningful Connectivity through a Global Pandemic".

The Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP)carried out a survey involving over 6,000 women in India, Mozambique, Nigeria and the Philippines. It found out that there is a significant impact of digital divide on women and the need for meaningful connectivity by enhancing affordable access, high-speed internet, suitable devices, and daily usage in a supportive environment.

Ms Ingrid Brudvig, Senior Research Manager at GDIP stresses that targeted digital policies play a key role in bridging inequalities. Based on examples from the Dominican Republic and Uganda, subsidy programmes and data-loaded devices significantly improved women's economic and educational opportunities.

Ms Sonia Jorge, Executive Director of GDIP and Member of the IGF Dynamic Coalition on Measuring Digital Inclusion, also calls on policymakers and the Information and Communication Technology sector to support initiatives such as community-based tech hubs. According to her, these hubs provide digital opportunities that empower women and girls, enhancing digital literacy and fostering supportive networks. It is exemplified by the IFAP-funded project "Promoting Information Literacy in Digital Environment among Women in Georgia" in Georgia, which has significantly contributed to ongoing education and empowerment in local communities.

To measure the impact of projects and strategies, Mr Cordel Green, Executive Director of the Broadcasting Commission (Jamaica) advocates for implementing mandatory gender audits, accompanied by gender-inclusive digital policies and regulatory frameworks, as well as enhancing digital literacy efforts. Mr Pablo Medina Jiménez, the Chair of the IFAP intergovernmental Council, added his voice for a strong call to equip women and girls with the necessary tools and skills in a digitized world.

Moreover, as revealed by the recent UNESCO report Challenging Systematic Prejudices: An Investigation into Bias Against Women and Girls in Large Language Models, in the vast digital landscape, even slight gender biases in Large Language Models (LLMs) can significantly amplify gender discrimination.

IFAP invites all stakeholders to engage with its webinar series in collaboration with IFAP Working Groups, National Committees and partners. The webinar series is aimed at facilitating knowledge exchange, offering practical solutions and policy recommendations, and sharing lessons learned and good practices to build inclusive Knowledge Societies across IFAP's six priority areas.

For further engagement and potential collaborations on IFAP webinar series, please contact the IFAP Secretariat ([email protected]).